Abraham Gets Channel 4 Top Job

David Abraham, the former head of UKTV, was this week appointed chief executive of Channel 4.

He replaces Andy Duncan, who stepped down in November. The new chief executive's starting date at Channel 4 has yet to be finalised.

"The board spoke to a number of other candidates and considered many more as part of a very thorough process and we're convinced that, in David, we have identified a creative manager of the highest quality," said Channel 4's chairman designate, Lord Burns, who takes over from Luke Johnson at the end of the month.

"He has a track record of success as a chief executive and the right mix of skills to get all parts of Channel 4 working together to unlock our full creative and commercial potential and complete our transition into digital," Burns added.

Abraham's appointment leaves a question mark over the future of Kevin Lygo, Channel 4's director of television and content, who is understood to have been the only other candidate on the final shortlist for the job.

The new chief executive is to be paid a basic salary of £490,000 a year. This is almost £100,000 less than his predecessor's basic salary of £580,000, although Duncan's pay was reduced from £670,000 in the middle of last year.

Abraham is also in line for a performance-related bonus of up to 50% of his basic salary, a boost on the 30% ceiling that Duncan operated under. Channel 4 has not paid out under the scheme for the past two years

Abraham, widely considered to have done a solid job that includes the rebranding of UKTV's 10-channel portfolio with short, punchy monikers such as Dave, Watch, Blighty, Eden and Alibi, was formerly the London-based Discovery Europe head of networks before moving to work for the factual broadcaster in the US.

He moved into TV management after a career in advertising; he was a co-founder of the influential ad agency St Luke's.

Abraham's experience at UKTV, which is jointly owned by Virgin Media and the BBC, will be an asset if the long-gestating deal between Channel 4 and the corporation's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, comes to fruition.

(Source The Guardian)